Serving counter with a beer keg handling apparatus

ABSTRACT

A beer keg handling mechanism is utilized for transporting a beer keg into its storage position within a cabinet. The mechanism comprises a two-section ramp, a fixed section within the cabinet, and a pivoted section tiltable 90* from its ramp position outside the cabinet to a generally upright position within the cabinet. The ramps provide rails on which a wheeled pulley-driven keg-supporting truck rides.

United States Patent 592,650 10/1897 Kendall 9216 North 9th Ave, Phoenix, Ariz. 85021 708,386 9/1902 McLaughlin [21] Appl. No. 782,826 808,328 12/1905 Wilshir [22] Filed 809,618 l/1906 Keech.......................... 1,586,908 6/1926 McDowell.................... 2,234,255 3/1941 Hunsaker 3,002,719 10/1961 Weiland et FOREIGN PATENTS 9/1925 France Primary Examiner-Gerald M. Forlenza Assistant Examiner-Raymond B. Johnson Attorney-Irwin P. Garfinkle [72] Inventor Arthur A. Plate Dec. 11, 1968 [45] Patented Dec. 28, 1971 ABSTRACT: A beer keg handling mechanism is utilized for transporting a beer keg into its storage position within a cabinet. The mechanism comprises a two-section ramp, a

fixed section within the cabinet, and a pivoted section tiltable 90 from its ramp position outside the cabinet to a generally upright position within the cabinet. The ramps provide rails on which a wheeled pulley-driven keg-supporting truck rides.

312/270, 214/1613 B65g1/04 [50] FieldofScan-chm.......................,.................

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 329,695 11/1885 Banta [54] SERVING COUNTER WITH A BEER KEG HANDLING APPARATUS 14 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

473,441 4/1892 Baker...........................

PATENTED mas 89" T $530,5 9

sum a [)F 3 1N VENTOR. ARTHUR A. PLATE ATTORNEY.

PATENTEUnzczmsn 3.830.589

' sumsms INVENTOR.

ARTHUR A. PLATE ATTORNEY.

SERVING COUNTER WITH A BEER KEG HANDLING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention is intended for use primarily in conjunction with commercial bars or serving counters from which tap beer is dispensed and sold. In many installations, tap .beer is dispensed from one-half keg barrels which are positioned in a storage cabinet in the rear of the bar. When filled, the beer kegs are very difficult to handle, especially for women employees.

Because of the shape of a beer keg, it is not overly difficult, even for women employees, to roll a keg to the storage cabinet behind the bar, but it is extremely difiicuit, even for a strong male employee, to maneuver the keg up into the cabinet. This invention provides a mechanism for transferring the keg into the cabinet. The invention accomplishes this result by means of a ramp on which a beer-supporting truck is motor driven from a position at essentially floor level to an elevated position within the cabinet.

The invention provides a unitized mechanism that may be installed in an existing cabinet. The mechanism includes a folding ramp having one stationary section within the cabinet, and another section pivoted to the stationary section, and tiltable 90 to a generally upright storage position. Each of the ramp sections incorporates a pair of spaced rails for supporting a wheeledkeg-supporting truck. A motor-driven pulley, mounted at the end of the stationary ramp tows the truck up the two ramp sections to its storage position within the cabinet. A pivoted pawl mechanism on the truck cooperates with notches on the rails to prevent the inadvertent downward travel of the truck in the event of failure of the motor or pulley. A manually operated mechanism is provided for pivoting the pawls out of engagement, while automatic means are provided for resetting the pawls when the truck reaches its lowermost position on the pivoted ramp section.

THE OBJECTS Another object of this invention is the provision of automatically operated safety mechanisms for preventing the inadvertent downward travel of a keg.

THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a side'view of FIG. 1 showing the mechanism in two different positions; one with the pivoted ramp in its operating position; and second with the pivoted ramp tilted to its upright position within the storage cabinet;

FIG. 3 is a cross section of the detail taken through the line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an electrical schematic of the motor energization circuit; and

FIG. 5 and 6 illustrate an additional feature which may be used in conjunction with the keg-handling mechanism.

THE DISCLOSED EMBODIMENT The entire keg-handling mechanism is a unitized assembly mounted on a platform 14) within the storage area under a cabinet or bar 12, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. In most cases, the platform is an existing structure of the cabinet. The mechanism utilizes an upper ramp 15 positioned entirely within the storage area, and comprised of a pair of oppositely disposed spaced stationary C-shaped rails 16a and 16b supported on the platform 10 by means of a plurality of posts 17,

which are rigidly spaced by end braces 18 and 19. The lower ramp 21 comprises a second pair of oppositely disposed spaced C-shaped rails 20a and 20b which are pivotally connected by means of pins 22 to the rails 16a and 16b, respectively. The rails 20a and 20!: are rigidly spaced by means of an end brace 24 and by means of a mid brace 25, which is shaped to embrace the keg after installation in the cabinet.

A wheeled truck generally indicated at 26 is carried between the rails 16a and 16b, and the rails 20a and 20b. The truck 26 is comprised of forward and rear tubular frame members 28 and 30, which rotatably carry the four wheels 32 which ride within the C-shaped channel of the rails.

The forward and rear tubular frame members 28 and 30 are rigidly spaced by two side frame members 34 and 36. and by a hollow intermediate tubular member 38. A ring 39, welded to the frame members, provides a supporting cradle for the bot- ,tom of a beer keg, and also serves to precisely center the keg on the truck. This is important since the space provided in commercial cabinets for a beer keg is very limited and the positioning of a keg on the truck off center could prevent its travel into the storage area.

The hollow tubular member 38 supports an operating rod 40, the forward end of which extends longitudinally through the frame member 28 and is connected to a transversely disposed crank 42, while its other end extends through the member 30 and is connected to a metallic knob 44. The knob 44 includes (see FIG. 3) a shoulder 46 and terminates in a cone 48.

The crank 42 is rotatably supported from the forward frame member 28 on bearings 50 and 52. The opposite ends of the crank 42 carry downwardly and rearwardly directed spring biased pawls 54 and 56, respectively. In the position shown in FIG. I, i.e., with the truck 26 positioned outside the cabinet 12 on the lower ramp 21, the cone 48 of knob 44 extends through a hole 58in the brace 24, and the pawls 54 and 56 are rotated into engagement with longitudinally spaced notches 60 in the top of each of the C-shaped rails.

The drive for the truck 26, mounted on the end brace 19, includes an electric motor 62 which drives a pulley 64 through reduction gearing 66. A line 67 is connected between the pulley 64 and the truck 26 at the tubular member 38. As shown schematically in FIG. 4, the electric motor 62 is connected to a conventional source of current through a spring biased, normally open, manually operated switch 68 and a spring biased, normally closed position switch 70. The position switch 70 is supported from the end of rail 16b and is opened by the truck 26 when it reaches its storage position within the cabinet 12.

In operation, an attendant would first position the lower ramp 21 in its down position as shown in solid lines in FIG. 2. Thereafter, the keg is rolled onto the ring 39 where it is firmly cradled. The motor 62 is energized when the switch 68 is closed and the truck 26 is towed up the ramp 21 and onto the ramp 15 until forward motion is stopped by the opening of the position switch 70.

During the upward travel of the truck 26, the spring biased pawls 54 and 56 are maintained in engagement with the notches 60 on the rails, and thus prevent the inadvertent downward travel of the truck 26, and lock the truck at its storage position as shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2. At this point, the ramp 21 is pivoted to its storage position so that the mid brace 25 embraces the keg. Although not necessary for the purpose of this disclosure, and not shown in the drawings, it is preferable that means be provided for locking the ramp 21 in its upright position.

To unload a keg, the pawls 54 and 56 are released from the notches 60 by longitudinally pulling the knob 44 of the rod 40 to rotate the crank 42. The spring biased pawls are locked out of the notches by setting the shoulder 46 on the surface of the tube 30 surrounding the opening through which the rod 40 extends. The truck is now free to roll down the ramp under its own weight. When the truck reaches the end of its travel, the cone 48 on the knob 44 enters the hole 58 on the end brace 24 and is recentered to reset the spring biased pawls 54 and 56 in the notches 60.

To avoid movement of the truck 26 during the loading of a keg onto the cradling ring 39, it is advantageous to use the automatic latching mechanism illustrated in FIGS. and 6. The latching mechanism modifies the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. [-4 by pivoting an Lshaped crank 72 on a shaft 74 supported from the hollow tubular member 38. One end of the crank 72 is provided with a slot 76, which is urged by means of a spring 80 into engagement with a tongue 78 affixed to the end brace 24 of the lower ramp 21.

The other end of the crank 72 is connected to one end of a rod 82, the other end of which is connected to the line 67. The rod 82 passes through a hollow rigid tube 84 affixed to the tubular member 38 and has positioned thereon a lost motion stop 86, spaced from the rearward end of the tube 84.

When the truck 26 is on the lower ramp, ready for loading, it is locked at its lowermost position by the positioning of the tongue 78 in the slot 76. However, when the motor 64 is energized, the rod 82 is pulled forward, turning the crank 72 counterclockwise and unlatching the tongue 78 from the slot 76. However, the truck 26 does not move, and the crank merely continues to rotate, until the lost motion stop 86 on rod 82 contacts the tube 84. This should occur almost immediately after the truck is unlatched. At this point operation proceeds as before.

When the truck 26 is returned to its lowermost position, the slot 76 and tongue 78 are automatically latched due to the beveled configuration of their opposing surfaces 76a and 780, respectively.

SUMMARY Thus, this invention provides a safe, efficient mechanism for transporting a beer keg into its storage position within a bar or other cabinet. In addition, since the keg is supported at an angle, almost the entire contents of the keg may be easily tapped by a tube penetrating to the lowermost portion of the keg. This eliminates considerable waste which is always attendant with a keg which is supported in its normal vertical upright position.

Various modifications and adaptations will become apparent to persons skilled in the art. It is intended therefore that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as read in the light of the prior art.

1. A unitized mechanism for transporting a keg into and for supporting said keg within a storage area under a counter, the combination comprising:

a serving counter with a storage area located therein;

an inclined upper ramp positioned entirely within said storage area under said counter;

a lower ramp pivoted to said upper ramp, said lower ramp extending outside said area, and being pivotable to an upright position entirely within said storage area under said counter;

a keg-supporting truck movable on said ramps; and

a drive for said truck for driving said truck up said ramps and into said storage, said drive being supported from said upper ramp, said lower ramp in said upright position having means embracing said keg.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1, and means for preventing the inadvertent downward travel of said truck.

3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said truck includes a ring situated in a plane generally parallel to said ramps, said ring providing a cradling support for a keg, and for centering said keg on said truck.

4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said upper and lower ramps each comprises a pair of oppositely disposed C-shaped rails, said truck being supported by two pairs of wheels rotatable within the C-shaped channels of said rails.

5. The invention as defined in claim 4, and means for preventing the inadvertent downward travel of said truck, said means comprising at least one pawl pivotally supported from said truck over a rail, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches along said rail, the end of said pawl being normally springbiased into engagement with said notches.

6. he invention as defined in claim 5, and a crank connected to said pawl for rotating the end of said pawl out of engagement with said notches to permit the downward travel of said truck on said ramp.

7. The invention as defined in claim 6, and a longitudinally disposed operating rod connected to said crank, the rearward movement of said rod rotating said pawl to disengage said pawl from said notches.

8. The invention as defined in claim 7, and a hollow tubular longitudinally disposed member fixed on said truck, said operating rod being supported for rearward movement within said member, said rod having a flanged operating knob at the end thereof, said flange being movable into engagement with the end of said member for maintaining said pawl disengaged from said notches.

9. The invention as defined in claim 8, and means on said ramp at the end of the rearward travel of said truck for automatically disengaging said flange from said member, whereby said pawl is reengaged with said notches.

10. The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein said drive comprises a motor driven reel and a line on said reel connected to said truck.

11. The invention as defined in claim 10, and means on said truck and on said lower ramp for latching said truck to said lower ramp; and unlatching means responsive to the operation of said drive for automatically unlatching said truck from said lower ramp.

12. The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein said latching mechanism comprising a tongue on said lower ramp and a crank pivoted on said truck and being spring biased toward said tongue, one end of said crank having a slot pivotable into and out of engagement with said tongue to latch and unlatch said truck to said lower ramp.

13. The invention as defined in claim 12 wherein unlatching means comprises a rod, one end of said rod being connected to the other end of said crank, the other end of said rod being connected to said line, the operation of said drive moving said rod to pivot said slot out of engagement by said tongue.

14. The invention as defined in claim 13, and a lost motion stop on said rod, said stop positively engaging said truck after said truck is unlatched from said lower ramp. 

1. A unitized mechanism for transporting a keg into and for supporting said keg within a storage area under a counter, the combination comprising: a serving counter with a storage area located therein; an inclined upper ramp positioned entirely within said storage area under said counter; a lower ramp pivoted to said upper ramp, said lower ramp extending outside said area, and being pivotable to an upright position entirely within said storage area under said counter; a keg-supporting truck movable on said ramps; and a drive for said truck for driving said truck up said ramps and into said storage, said dRive being supported from said upper ramp, said lower ramp in said upright position having means embracing said keg.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1, and means for preventing the inadvertent downward travel of said truck.
 3. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein said truck includes a ring situated in a plane generally parallel to said ramps, said ring providing a cradling support for a keg, and for centering said keg on said truck.
 4. The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein said upper and lower ramps each comprises a pair of oppositely disposed C-shaped rails, said truck being supported by two pairs of wheels rotatable within the C-shaped channels of said rails.
 5. The invention as defined in claim 4, and means for preventing the inadvertent downward travel of said truck, said means comprising at least one pawl pivotally supported from said truck over a rail, and a plurality of longitudinally spaced notches along said rail, the end of said pawl being normally spring biased into engagement with said notches.
 6. The invention as defined in claim 5, and a crank connected to said pawl for rotating the end of said pawl out of engagement with said notches to permit the downward travel of said truck on said ramp.
 7. The invention as defined in claim 6, and a longitudinally disposed operating rod connected to said crank, the rearward movement of said rod rotating said pawl to disengage said pawl from said notches.
 8. The invention as defined in claim 7, and a hollow tubular longitudinally disposed member fixed on said truck, said operating rod being supported for rearward movement within said member, said rod having a flanged operating knob at the end thereof, said flange being movable into engagement with the end of said member for maintaining said pawl disengaged from said notches.
 9. The invention as defined in claim 8, and means on said ramp at the end of the rearward travel of said truck for automatically disengaging said flange from said member, whereby said pawl is re-engaged with said notches.
 10. The invention as defined in claim 9, wherein said drive comprises a motor driven reel and a line on said reel connected to said truck.
 11. The invention as defined in claim 10, and means on said truck and on said lower ramp for latching said truck to said lower ramp; and unlatching means responsive to the operation of said drive for automatically unlatching said truck from said lower ramp.
 12. The invention as defined in claim 11 wherein said latching mechanism comprising a tongue on said lower ramp and a crank pivoted on said truck and being spring biased toward said tongue, one end of said crank having a slot pivotable into and out of engagement with said tongue to latch and unlatch said truck to said lower ramp.
 13. The invention as defined in claim 12 wherein unlatching means comprises a rod, one end of said rod being connected to the other end of said crank, the other end of said rod being connected to said line, the operation of said drive moving said rod to pivot said slot out of engagement by said tongue.
 14. The invention as defined in claim 13, and a lost motion stop on said rod, said stop positively engaging said truck after said truck is unlatched from said lower ramp. 